Probe International

(May 31, 1994) AFTERWORD TO THE CHINESE EDITION by Dai Qing

The Yangtze River will soon be severed in two. Should it matter to us, the common folks, the journalists, the scholars and veteran cadres long retired from their important posts?

(May 31, 1994) THE ASSESSMENT OF THE THREE GORGES PROJECT SHOULD HAVE INVOLVED SOCIOLOGISTS AND ANTHROPOLOGISTS by Jin Jun

I would like to analyze the problem of population relocation from a sociological perspective. Although the Liujiaxia Gorge reservoir has been completed for many years, the resettlement problems created by its construction are still with us and can be used as a point of comparison with the Three Gorges project.

(May 31, 1994) THE THREE GORGES PROJECT IN THE CONTEXT OF PRESENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS by Wu Jiaxiang

Before a large project is carried out, the social, economic and political environments should be considered as well as questions of technical feasibility and profit. At present, these considerations do not favor the start of the Three Gorges project.

(May 31, 1994) MUST A FINISHED PROJECT FINISH ITS ENVIRONMENT? by Mao Yushi

In the old days, when my uncle, Mao Yishen, designed the Qiantan River bridge, the director of the construction office in Zhejing province told him he would take care of the budget, and that my uncle was to be in charge of personnel. But one point was made clear: if the bridge turned out to be a failure then they both had to take responsibility and jump in the river. Today, however, after many failed and defective projects, people no longer feel personally responsible. It is ridiculous to make a final decision on the extraordinarily large Three Gorges project without an established decision-making process and a practical investment system.

(May 31, 1994) RESETTLEMENT IN THE THREE GORGES PROJECT by Dai Qing

In contemporary China, many decision makers ignore the possible consequences of flooding the upper stream of the Yangtze River,236 and of blocking this vital waterway for 20 years in order to construct the Three Gorges project. China needs a solid financial environment for its economic reform, but decision makers insist instead on building a super dam at China’s most beautiful scenic spot on its largest river. The project will force the resettlement of between one million and 1.6 million people.

(May 31, 1994) THE THREE GORGES PROJECT: AN UNREASONABLE OPTION FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION An Account of an Interview with Luo Xibei by Wu Jingcai

Luo asks an important question-where is the electricity generated by the Three Gorges project supposed to go, and whom will it serve?

(May 31, 1994) THE TRIBUTARIES FIRST AND THE MAINSTREAM OF THE RIVER SECOND: A PRINCIPLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YANGTZE RIVER An Interview with Chen Mingshao by Gang Jian

Gang Jian: I gather that you used to work in the field of water resources. One might assume that you would be very enthusiastic about the immediate start of the Three Gorges project, and yet it turns out that you are opposed to a hasty start. What are the primary reasons for your position?

(May 31, 1994) THE LIMITED BENEFITS OF FLOOD CONTROL: An Interview with Lu Qinkan by Chen Kexiong

Chen Kexiong: I understand that as early as the Nationalist period you were sent to America to study and work out the first draft plan of the Three Gorges project.

(May 31, 1994) RESETTLEMENT AND LAND LOSS WILL SERIOUSLY DISRUPT PRODUCTION: An Interview with Wang Xingrang by Chen Ying

Chen Ying: Discussions have been going on for decades as to the feasibility of carrying out the Three Gorges project. But little has been reported to the public. The assessment meetings are given only simple and biased news coverage. The departments concerned, and some leaders, are said to be unwilling to have the issue debated openly. Do you think the project should be discussed by people throughout the country?

(May 31, 1994) ONCE THE GOLDEN WATERWAY IS SEVERED, CAN ANOTHER YANGTZE RIVER BE DUG? : A Conversation with Peng De by Fang Xiangming and Li Weizhong

Peng De: Since the transportation capacity of the Yangtze River is approximately equal to that of 14 railway lines, the development of the river should give more emphasis to shipping than to flood control. Premier Zhou Enlai once pointed out emphatically: “If a dam in the Yangtze River hinders navigation, this dam must be blown up.”